Home Catalog Programs of Study List of Programs Allied Health

Allied Health

The Allied Health curriculum is designed to prepare students for a variety of allied health careers and training programs.

Degrees Offered

A.S. in Pre-Health Occupations

Division Dean John Skellenger
Department Chair Jason Pedro
Phone (916) 608-6927
Email skellej@flc.losrios.edu

Associate Degree

A.S. in Pre-Health Occupations

The Pre-Health Occupation major prepares students to enter a variety of allied health training programs. It contains coursework required for many allied health majors including Nursing, Medical Laboratory Technology, and others. Since each training program requires a unique set of prerequisite coursework, it is imperative that students work closely with Counseling Services to ensure the appropriate courses are chosen for the training program they wish to enter.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2026

Degree Requirements

Course Code	Course Title	Units
A minimum of 15 units from the following:		15¹
BIOL 400	Principles of Biology (5)
BIOL 430	Anatomy and Physiology (5)
BIOL 431	Anatomy and Physiology (5)
BIOL 440	General Microbiology (4)
or BIOL 442	General Microbiology and Public Health (5)
CHEM 305	Introduction to Chemistry (5)
CHEM 400	General Chemistry I (5)
CHEM 401	General Chemistry II (5)
A minimum of 9 units from the following:		9²
AH 311	Medical Language for Health-Care Providers (3)
ANTH 310	Cultural Anthropology (3)
or SOC 300	Introductory Sociology (3)
or SOC 321	Race, Ethnicity and Inequality in the United States (3)
COMM C1000	Introduction to Public Speaking (3)
or COMM C1004	Interpersonal Communication (3)
or COMM 331	Group Discussion (3)
or COMM 361	The Communication Experience (3)
or COMM 311	Argumentation and Debate (3)
NUTRI 300	Nutrition (3)
PSYC C1000	Introduction to Psychology (3)
PSYC 370	Human Development: A Life Span (3)
STAT C1000	Introduction to Statistics (4)
or PSYC 330	Introductory Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (3)
Total Units:		24

¹BIOL 400, CHEM 400 and CHEM 401 required for Folsom Lake College's Medical Laboratory Program.

²AH 110, COMM 301 or 311 or 321 or 331 and STAT 300 or PSYC 330 required for Folsom Lake College's Medical Laboratory Program.

The Pre-Health Occupations Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, and either (a) the Local General Education Pattern or (b) the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC), plus sufficient electives for a total of at least 60 units. See FLC graduation requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

apply chemical principles to solve quantitative problems.
demonstrate skills in laboratory procedures and apply critical thinking skills in laboratory experiments.
describe the overall organization of the human body.
describe the roles that culture and diversity play in various aspects of human behavior.
demonstrate a workable knowledge of medical terminology.
explain the principles of nutrition and their effect on health.

Career Information

This program prepares students to enter a variety of allied health training programs.

Allied Health (AH) Courses

AH 108 Introduction to Health Occupations

Units:2
Hours:36 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides an introduction to the healthcare field and to the core foundational skills needed by all healthcare workers. Topics include types of healthcare delivery systems and careers, history and trends of healthcare, law and ethics pertaining to healthcare, personal qualities of healthcare workers, confidentiality and reportable incidents, and infection control and safety policies for healthcare settings. Students will research healthcare careers and relate them to their own interests, values, and abilities. This course is open to all students wishing to explore the healthcare industry. A field trip to a local healthcare facility may be required.

AH 109 Direct Caregiver Training: Adult and Elderly

Units:1.5
Hours:27 hours LEC; 6 hours LAB
Prerequisite:None.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides direct caregivers the initial 20-hour component (of 40 hours total) required prior to working independently with residents in residential care communities for elderly (RCFE) settings. Topics include those required by state law: personal care services; physical limitations and psychosocial needs of the elderly; residents’ rights; medication management; emergency management; dementia care; postural supports, and cultural competency. California law, specifically Health and Safety Code section 1569.625, dictates the initial 40 hours of direct caregivers training. *RCFE employees must meet specific requirements prior to hire. Students should consider these requirements prior to registering for the course. All employees must pass a criminal background check, and possess the physical and mental ability to perform direct caregiver work. Please reference California Assisted Living Association: http://caassistedliving.org/provider-resources/laws-regulations/staff-training/

AH 119 Careers in Direct Caregiving: Assisted Living and Memory Care

Units:1.5
Hours:27 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides an overview of California Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) and the population served in assisted living and memory care facilities. The eight hours of didactic medication technician training as required in California Health and Safety Code 1569.69, is incorporated into this course. The role of activity coordinator in assisted living is also covered. Other topics include aspects of aging; techniques to better communicate with the elderly including socialization; differences between various long term care settings and career opportunities in RCFE.

AH 120 Human Disease

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:AH 311 with a grade of "C" or better
Advisory:BIOL 100 with a grade of "C" or better
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is a study of pathological processes imparting basic knowledge to paramedical personnel. The student will study the basic concepts, terminology, etiology and characteristics of pathological processes. Diseases are classified according to both causative agent and the body system to which they relate.

AH 124 Pharmacology for the Health Care Professional

Units:2
Hours:36 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course introduces pharmacology, the knowledge of basic pharmacological terminology and concepts, administration, common generic and trade name medications, with an emphasis on the clinical application of pharmacology of the treatment of disease.

AH 311 Medical Language for Health-Care Providers

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides an orientation to medical language including basic structure of medical term prefixes, suffixes, and roots, and combining forms with emphasis on analysis, spelling, and pronunciation. The course builds a medical vocabulary applicable to the specialties of medicine, the systems of the body, names of major diseases, and terms used in physical examination, diagnosis, and treatment. The purchase of a standard medical dictionary is required. This course was formerly known as AH 110.

AH 498 Work Experience in Allied Health

Units:0.5 - 4
Hours:27 - 216 hours LAB
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU
General Education:Local GE L7B
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides students with opportunities to develop marketable skills in preparation for employment or advancement within the field of Allied Health. Course content will include understanding the application of education to the workforce; completing required forms which document the student's progress and hours spent at the work site; and developing workplace skills and competencies. During the semester, the student is required to attend orientation. Students must complete 27 hours of related paid or unpaid work experience for .5 unit. An additional 27 hours of related work experience is required for each additional .5 unit. The course may be taken for a maximum of 16 units. Students should have access to a computer, the Internet, and some computer media such as a USB drive to store data files. Online students must have an email account. Only one Work Experience course may be taken per semester.